Thanksgiving 2014

As part of the Senior Missionary group, we all take our turn at contributing something like Family Home Evening or organizing an excursion in addition to our callings as missionaries.

We chose along with Elder and Sister Munson to organize the Thanksgiving Dinner that was held at our Apartment Complex which has a wonderful event room equipped with kitchen, bathrooms and a pool table if you want.  We invited all that we could including the Area Presidency and some Expatriates that work for the US Embassy.  Total that attended were 45.  Chef Carlos from the CCM (Training Center for Missionaries here in Guatemala) was procured by us to cook our dinner for us.  He did an excellent job and set it up buffet style with waitresses to clean up after us.....in short it was a wonderful catered dinner.

 I took these pictures after everyone was served. 

I used a flower decoration I use in my apartment (I made it myself)

I made this for one of the tables.  Flowers are plentiful here and I enjoyed putting this together.  The squash was hollowed out and I inserted a can in the center and start arranging the flowers then added water.  The ribbon......well it was a ribbon that I have on my hat.  Worked out well I thought. Please notice the other table flower decorations in the next few pictures.

 Thanksgiving event was a success. Other flower arrangements were contributed by Sister Woods and Sister Lorrie Munson.  Roses and other flowers adorned the tables.  Tablecloths were supplied by Chef Carlos.  Altogether it was an amazing event.

 Our event room and Thanksgiving party

 Al, Brad and Elder and Sister Sorenson

 Elder and Sister Snedaker, Elder and Sister Milne and Elder and Sister Bennett

 Elder and Sister Trapnall and family

 Elder and Sister Olson, Elder and Sister Bingham, Elder and Sister Woods

 President Ochoa to the left with wife, Elder and Sister Laws and Elder and Sister Chase

 

Area President Kevin Duncan and family and Elder and Sister Munson



Our son Brad Burningham´s visit November 20th through November 28th.

We were pleased and honored to have our son Brad visit us for a week.  He served his Mission here in Guatemala from 1992 through 1994 and was anxious to see how things have changed.

But first we traveled to some historic scenic places. We went first to Quirigua ruins on our way to Rio Dulce, stayed the night and then on to Tikal National Park. It was quite interesting to see all the ruins and hear about the various theories of how the ancient people lived.  Travel on some of the roads were difficult with speed bumps called "Tumulos".  One must slow down almost to a stop to travel over it so you don´t ruin your car.  Tumulos are put there to keep people from speeding.  Small towns have a lot of people walking and children playing and they mean business when they put in these tumulos to keep the residents safe.

On Sunday after we arrived back in the City we once again traveled....this time we traveled to Antigua where Brad served in one of his areas of his mission.  We have been to Antigua many times already and have enjoyed the sights and sounds.  We attended Church there where Brad said it had not changed much but the property had enlarged quite a bit.

The next day we traveled to Lake Atitlan to stay the night but not without looking over Solola and Panachel.  We enjoyed all that we saw....as for the food, that was suspect.  Both Brad and I became ill.  I needed antibiotics to get well.  Brad took some this morning before he left for the US.

Following are pictures.

 Traveling through a Banana Plantation

 Rio Dulce

Brad at the Fort San Felipe off the Rio Dulce River

 Brad at the Fort

 Brad in the ferry as we went across the river to our Hotel

 Al in the ferry to travel to the hotel

 Rio Dulce

The many ruins of Tikal

Its amazing how much was unearthed and how much archeologists can find out.

 Wild Turkeys everywhere

 I was amazed I got up here.  Fortunately there was a wood stair case.  Still quite high.

 Brad at the top of a structure we climbed.

 This was looking from the top of one temple to another.  They are so tall.

This is the highest but I did not want to climb the stairs to get to it.  Did it once but not again.

We took Brad to Atitlan and on the way we passed a banana plantation

Church meeting house in Atitlan

Me eating a tipico chicken soup.  It was alright but I was not feeling well the next day

 Hotel Atitlan, beautiful gardens throughout the whole property

 Waking up to the volcanos.  Beautiful sight

 This parrot really liked Al.  He would walk over every branch to get close to him

ugh

 Went to church in Antigua November 23.  Annual Primary Program

 The girls wore white dresses with yellow headbands. Boys wore white shirts and blue bow ties.

Children approaching their moms after the program.

Families love their children

Sweetheart of a child stood and posed for me after the program